Yeah for Cub Scouts!!!

We have been involved in Cub Scouts for a LONG time! What else can you expect with having five boys?!? Dallen is our last one in Cubs and this week he had his Pinewood Derby. I feel bad for the last child because the enthusiasm from the father to make ANOTHER car is slim to none! I don't know how it happened, but there was a car that Scott and Ashton built last year that managed to make it through a whole year and still have all the pieces and it was actually in good enough shape to race! I must tell the truth, though, Scott was willing to build a car with Dallen, but the kit he was given had no nails (which hold on the wheels...um...a little important!). Then we gave the kit back and no one gave us one and we forgot about it until last Sunday when Dallen brought home a slip of paper that said "Pinewood Derby - Tuesday". Needless to say, no car was being built this year, but Ashton was kind enough to let Dallen borrow his from last year, and Dallen being the good sport, said that was fine. So, off to the races we went!

No one won! They decided just to let the boys race three or four times and didn't keep times or places. There were no tears (maybe some from the dads :). It was a fun evening. We have cub scouts with the whole stake because there aren't enough boys in each unit, which makes it fun because Dallen can be with other friends, one of his best friends, A. J. (Ashton, but we have to call him AJ because of the Ashton in our home, and Dallen's other best friend is named Ashton, also!). Anyway, it was a fun night.

This is a picture of Dallen receiving a certificate of most innovative car (thanks to Ashton and Dad!). Scott is secretly hoping that next year they do the derby in March so that he doesn't have to build another.

We have a birthday this next week!!! Ashton turns 12 years old. We are excited for him and he is really excited to become a Deacon. He came home today and said "today was my last Sunday in Primary"...yeah, he's done with Primary. It's funny how they reach 11 1/2 and they are done with singing and Primary Program stuff...they just want to move on. We'll post pictures next week!

Shouldn't January Be Over?!?!

I don't know why, but this month has seemed eternal! We have been busy with things...first, here is our family picture we sent out to everyone. If you didn't get it...sorry! I must not have your address. You have to look at the pictures we took two years ago (on the bar to the left). We have all changed quite a bit! It's amazing how much the kids have grown in two years!

Alec went to take his permit test and didn't get it :(. We have to go back (I told him when he felt he was ready) and take it again. When we went, we saw Derrek's best friend there taking his, so I had a good time chatting with his mom and laughing about the boys.

Derrek might be out of a job, soon. They are tearing down the building (McDonalds) and building a new one on top of it. It will take three or four months and so either Derrek has to find something else or hopefully get re-hired when they re-open. He's a little stressed. He really likes the extra money, even though he complains it is never enough (we keep telling him..."welcome to our world"). Plus, he has to pay for his insurance and misc. things (clothes, eye solution, etc.) so that worries him. We are kind of glad because now we can teach him how valuable a savings account is and right now he can be out of work for at least six months and be okay! He's only been working since October! It's a lesson for us all!!! We celebrated my mom and sister's birthdays by driving to McDonald's to visit Derrek while he was working and get some ice cream! It was fun for us!!!

We have started a new "allowance" program. It is working so far. Yesterday Alec was about done with it, but it is because he saved everything he had to do for one day! We started giving them allowance because I thought it would be better for them to take the money that I would spend on their needs (clothing, personal items, etc.) and learn how to budget it and save for when they need shoes or other things, then they are responsible for it and it cuts out me having to say "no, that's too much" or "I don't have money for that". But, they weren't working for it. Now that Derrek is working (which is another reason...we wanted to prepare them for when they started earning more money...learning how to budget and save), he said that he wished he would have worked for his allowance. So, we started doing that with Calvin and Alec. They have extra chores each week (Scott and I don't think they should be paid for things that help us function as a family, like dishes and vacuuming, etc.). They are now cooking twice a week for me (each) and ironing church shirts, doing laundry on Saturday, cleaning the playroom and backyard. It has been a blessing for me because I am now able to do the other things that I relied on Scott to help me with, like getting Ashton to do his homework and violin! But, with Bishop stuff, he is gone most of the week. So, it has been a huge help not having to work on dinner, too. I only cook two days a week! It is really weird for me! Plus, I am really excited that they will be able to take care of themselves when they leave our home. I think I am going to start having Derrek cook on Wednesdays, though. He is the one that needs to learn. He always has Alec do it for him! But, Alec won't always be there with him!!!

Dallen is playing basketball. When I asked him during sign-ups, he didn't want to go, but then his friend got him all excited and he was lucky enough to be able to get on their team (the dad coaches the team). So, he plays for two hours every Saturday. I just want one to love sports, so that I can have an excuse to go. Plus, it is good for them to have something that Scott can support them in :) Anyway, here is a little glimpse of what we get to see for two hours every Saturday! He is the one dribbling the ball first and then shuffles around trying to get open!

Calm Holidays...

It seems to me that the "before" the actual holiday is actually more crazy than the holidays themselves. Christmas day was, according to my kids, "boring". The day before we did our annual Wii bowling tournament with my parents and brothers/sisters and their families. Collin (Julianne's son) was the only child to make it to the finals with his parents and Rod. My boys totally failed us this year...they can't even blame it on not having a Wii because Julianne's family didn't either (they got one this Christmas). Then we played Lego Rockband and that is always fun. We got cash prizes, too and Rod got the grand-daddy prize for top score ($50). It all had to be put toward our family cruise we are taking in May to the Mediterranean Sea.
Derrek got a bag of coal from Calvin...brotherly love!
Ashton posing in his "Snuggie"

Alec with his stocking...he can feel all the candy!!!

Shep giving the camera his "don't you dare touch this bone" look...

Christmas day was a lazy day. Scott and I told the kids that the only thing we wanted this year was to sleep in. So we all agreed to come down stairs at 9:00 am. It was heavenly. Those that were awake, just went and watched a movie. Shep got his annual "candy cane" bone and was/is very happy. All the other stuff took 20 minutes to open. It wasn't much, but some things that the kids did want. Dallen and Ashton wanted Snuggies. I seriously can't believe I got them for them. They are really dumb, but the boys are SOOO happy with them.

Derrek got his braces off. He is very happy. He has also managed to "melt" his retainer and already needs a new one! Alec told him that to clean it he needed to rinse it in hot water and Derrek rinsed it in the hot water that they use to make coffee at McDonalds. It melted the retainer. He tried sticking it in his mouth to re-form it to his teeth, but it literally burned his mouth...and did nothing to re-form the retainer. So...now we have to get another. Alec, who is prone to breaking things early, didn't even do that! We tease Derrek...it's fun for us!

For New Year's, Scott's sisters and brother came to stay at his other brother's house (Kent's) and we did things with them. We also had a youth New Year's party for the youth in our ward and played games and ate way too much. It was fun.

I think the kids are ready to go back to school this week. They are off tomorrow, still, but return on Tuesday. They are tired of being bored. They are hoping to go play in the snow tomorrow with Scott (I don't do snow). He has to go up to Panguitch for work and they have lots of snow.

Well, hope everyone else had a great holiday season.